Respiratory Therapist (RT) - Adults
Posted Sep 10, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
Behavioral
Tell me about a time a patient's condition suddenly got worse on your shift. What did you notice first and what did you do?
recognition of early deterioration and composure under pressure in real-time critical care
Tell me about a time you caught a near miss or safety issue before it reached the patient. What did you do about it and who did you tell?
genuine commitment to reporting culture, not just lip service to safety language
Tell me about a time you had to hand off a complicated patient to the next shift. What made that handoff go well or badly?
discipline around clear, accurate communication during transitions of care
Have you precepted a new therapist or student before? What's your approach when they're about to make a mistake during a procedure?
teaching ability and comfort taking responsibility for others' learning on a night shift with less backup
Tell me about a physical task on this job, like transferring a patient, that pushed your limits. How did you keep yourself and the patient safe?
awareness of body mechanics and honest self-assessment of physical demands described in the job
Technical
Walk me through how you'd assess a patient who's just been intubated and put on a ventilator in the ICU. What data are you pulling together before you make any settings changes?
whether the candidate can integrate blood gases, hemodynamics, and chest imaging into a coherent clinical picture rather than reacting to one number
What's your process when a ventilator starts alarming and you're not sure if it's a patient problem or an equipment problem?
systematic troubleshooting rather than guesswork when patient safety is on the line
What's different about how you'd approach ventilator management for an elderly patient with COPD versus a younger patient with acute respiratory failure?
understanding that age and underlying disease change clinical decision-making, not just textbook protocol knowledge
Situational
Say you're managing a critical vent patient and a nurse pages you about a non-critical treatment on another floor at the same time. How do you decide what happens first?
prioritization skill in an environment with constant interruptions and competing demands
How do you explain a new therapy, like a nebulizer routine or oxygen use at home, to a patient who seems anxious or confused about their diagnosis?
ability to translate clinical information into plain language patients can actually use
You disagree with a physician's order on a respiratory protocol because your assessment doesn't match what they've prescribed. What do you do?
clinical judgment and how the person handles conflict with authority without compromising patient care
You're an hour into a 12-hour night shift and get three admissions needing respiratory assessment at once. How do you manage your time and your team?
organizational skill and self-management specific to the demands of overnight staffing
What do you do when equipment you need, like a specific vent or diagnostic tool, isn't available or isn't working right when a patient needs it now?
resourcefulness and calm problem-solving when the ideal tool isn't at hand
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As published by Advocate Health.
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